We hope you enjoyed the Easter holidays and you were able to get some time off. Here at Divine Creatures we had our busiest day on record on the 2nd April with a whopping 28 admissions! Our highest admissions day on a single day. Much thanks to all our wonderful clients who organized the paperwork before arriving – the day went very smoothly and no one was kept waiting.
We currently still have a very full house with 62 cats holidaying in the resort and we have a waiting list for this upcoming weekend. Please remember to book in early during school holidays to avoid disappointment. It is definitely always worth while going on our waiting lists. Our waiting list does not work on a first on the list basis, but on a cancellation match basis. For example, if we have a cancellation between 24th December and 3rd January and you required those exact dates, you will receive first option to take the canceled room. Last year number 87 on the list got a place over Christmas!

Our last lot of kittens were with us for four weeks and unfortunately did not find a home. They are back at the Cat Protection Society where they will hopefully have a better chance at finding a home quickly. Thank you to all who shared their post and for all your wonderful efforts! We received a lot of phone calls, so sharing the posts are working at reaching people – please keep up the good work.

Our new kittens are just too cute! Luna and Ginny are two girls who can either go together or be homed individually.

It’s the start of Autumn although it still feels like blissful summer days! With warmer weather comes the “joys” for our precious pets of flea, ticks, snakes and even heat stress. Unfortunately, even with the cooler weather approaching we need to still stay vigilant. It is important to continue flea treatments through out winter. If you are in a tick prone area remember there is no such thing as tick seasons anymore. And never keep your cats, dogs or children or any living animal in a car alone.

The highlight of our media attention became reality with Dr Harry Cooper filming a segment on Divine Creatures for the Better Homes and Gardens Show. It was truly wonderful to hear Dr Harry tell Jules that Divine Creatures was “the best cattery he had ever seen”, from such a well traveled and renown veterinarian who also owned a cattery many years ago.

We had a lovely success story with our two kittens.
A really lovely lady who had wanted a cat for a number of years but was limited by rental regulations, fell in love with this adorable duo and took them home instantly.
A huge effort was put in on Facebook for these two – Thank you to everyone who shared our post and made it possible to find a forever home for these kittens! We couldn’t have asked for a better home 🙂

Our new kittens for up for adoption are purring machines! These two girls will fill your home with so much entertainment and hours of fun – really adorable pair.
These 16week old girls must go together. Also one is all white and must be indoor cats only.
Is this you? Would you like to ditch the TV for these two characters?!
Please share the post to promote their chances of finding a forever loving home

We hope you have a very pleasant Easter filled with chocolates! Please always remember that chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. Whilst cats do not usually like chocolate, some cats do so best to keep all chocolate away from your feline friend. Most dogs really love chocolate. They can sniff out chocolate during Easter Egg Hunts, can easily rip open boxed eggs etc. Avoid a costly trip to the vets and hide the chocolates from the pets!

Yes cats and dogs get arthritis and it can be very painful for them. Arthritis should not be ignored with statements like “he’s just getting old.” While we can not make the arthritis go away, we can create a plan of action

Be sure to be watching Better Homes and Gardens on the 27th February!
Yes Divine Creatures will be FEATURED, yes featured on Dr Harry’s segment on Better Homes and Gardens with the piece talking about how to choose a good Cattery.

Our Cat Protection Society’s Cat Adoption center is going very well. All three girls featured in our previous newsletter found a home. The next three girls unfortunately did not find a home although we are confident they will find a home quickly back at the Cat Protection Society

These two adorable souls are currently up for adoption

Their playful personalities and smoochie nature will be sure to capture anyone’s heart.

If you can not adopt one of our kittens there are many other ways you can help.
1) From Divine Creatures facebook page, please share the the kittens for adoption posts onto your facebook. I know it might start to look like you are spamming but this is a great way option to reach a bigger network of caring people and get these kittens their forever homes.
Change the balance of cruelty, many of these kittens are dumped in boxes and left at the CPS or on the road, by sharing these posts you are trying to make a difference, trying to reach out and find a forever loving home rather than doing nothing.
2) Donate to the Cat Protection Society. Even if it a small amount, the key is continuity. Just $10 per month can be milk for a litter of kittens, every little bit helps.
3) If you can, donate to several organizations. The smaller charities often struggle to get funding. A good friend of mine runs “Little Paws Orphan Rescue” and rescues kittens. These small organizations can always do with cash donations or donations in form of old toys, bedding or premium food.
4) Volunteer at a shelter – There are hundreds of local pounds and shelters who would love some valuable help. This can be grubby heartbreaking work but can also be incredibly rewarding. Even becoming a wildlife carer is wonderfully rewarding.
5) Speak up and spread the word about rescue as opposed to purchasing. Doing this MAKES A DIFFERENCE! Making the difference starts with you, make the pledge to always rescue and not purchase and then spread the word to your friends that they can save lives too.
If everyone changed their mind about rescuing as opposed to purchasing … 250,000 cats and dogs would be saved each and every year. Huge numbers. This is the number one thing that would make a difference – let’s

Pet Pacific, MasterPet, Cenvet, Rogue Rogality, and Doog

The generosity this year was overwhelming. So many of people over the month purchased and donated to the Christmas Wish Tree or offered their prizes to the wishing tree. Each month Divine Creatures donates to 5 different charities and it is beautiful to see the charitably in others as well 🙂

Bree has had a promotion! Bree is now the General Manager ensuring customer service is kept to a level of excellence, coordinating all the bookings and Bree coordinates daily check ins and check outs . Jules hasn’t gone anywhere! She is still at Divine Creatures every day, ensuring the guests are also kept at a level of excellence and over-sees the day-to-day cat hotel and pet shop operations.

Now with the expansion, it certainly takes a large amount time coordinating check ins and check outs for 52 rooms. At times we only have a couple of hours to turn a room around in preparation for the next admission, therefore we just ask for you to run on time for your prearranged check in or check out time. If you are running late, please call us so that we can organize around the plans for the day and not disadvantage the next guest scheduled into that room.

We also only have Condo’s left for Christmas next year! We do try to provide ample notice in these newsletters regarding availability so please try

Another wonderful month at Divine Creatures with Channel 7 News filming us for a segment about how much we love our pets.
View it here if you missed it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W0YnZhZ_xk
Divine Creatures is the example of how much we love our pets, both clients and staff alike. Every day we answer calls from worried first time away pet parents. This is exactly how Divine Creatures started and it has been a mission to ensure you and your cats have a peaceful and relaxing holiday because we understand first hand how important that is.

As we come to the end of 2014 we thank you for your loyalty to us, for voting for us and your absolutely beautiful testimonials. We are also very thankful for all the media attention and proud to be recognized as the best! (Dr harry coming soon!)

It’s going to be a busy month ahead which kicks off on the 6th December:

Pop in and visit us on the 6th and you may win an on the spot prize! Although if you can’t make it, you can enter the raffle anytime. The raffle will be drawn on the 24th December.

We are looking forward to our new Cat Adoption Center and proud to be partners with Cat Protection Society. They do amazing work at C.P.S. You can also help support them by donating or better still, setting up a small regular monthly donation. Also spread the word! If your friends are looking for a cat, let them know about us! Together we can save lives.

Please stay safe this Christmas and New Years. Below is a valuable article on how to stay safe this Christmas and avoid a trip to the Vets. Remember common sense prevails and its always better to be cautious and safe than sorry.

Christmas – let’s make sure it’s a time of good will not vet bills!

While many rejoice at the idea of Christmas and well earnt holidays, for vets the Christmas period is often our busiest time of the year. Fortunately for most careful pet owners, the vast majority of Christmas admissions to vet hospitals could be avoided.

Chocolate poisoning: many people put chocolates wrapped under the Christmas tree or under beds. This is no challenge for dogs with their sensitive noses. Chocolate is poisonous to animals and causes vomiting, diarrhoea, fast heart rates, tremors, seizures and can cause death. Put chocolates up high or

Another month of very very exciting news! On 15th October we had Dr Harry Cooper from Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens film a segment on “How to choose a good cattery, what to look out for and how to prepare your cat for boarding”.

We had a fantastic day filming for 8 hours. Dr Harry and the film crew raved about our cat hotel and we are so grateful for their interest in Divine Creatures. It was a remarkable and exciting day for us, and we hope that many will learn what to look out for when choosing a cattery.
Choosing a “home away from home” is a topic that Jules is particularly passionate about as too often Jules has seen sub-minimal standards in boarding catteries. Cats are very sensitive to environmental conditions. To ensure every cat was cared for and loved to the highest degree as well as ensured every aspect of safety was covered is why Divine Creatures was created.

Its hard to believe that it is Divine Creatures’ fourth birthday on the 4th December! Four years have gone incredibly fast. Please join us for our Charity Day while celebrating our grand opening of The Cat Adoption Program and Divine Creatures’ 4th Birthday on Saturday 6th December 2014. 10% of profit made on the day will be donated to Cat Protection Society plus there will be our HUGE store wide sale! Gifts, giveaways, prizes and much more on the day!
A few of our guests over the years

The Local Business Awards is coming up on the 7th November and much to Jules’ surprise, she has also reached the finals for Business Person of the Year Award. We are now up for two awards the other being Outstanding Pet Care.

Wishing you a happy November month -please keep your pets safe as the temperature rises and we hope to see you on 6th December!

How Pet Safe is Your Home?

Unfortunately a high percentage of emergency pet cases are the end result of avoidable accidents. It is always a good idea to look at our homes and critically ask if we are making them as safe as possible. Let’s check room by room:

Kitchen

Kitchens can contain some serious dangers for our pets.
All the cleaning chemicals that we tend to keep under the kitchen sink can be potentially poisonous to our pets, be they cats, dogs, rats, ferrets, rabbits, etc. Make sure they are safely locked up.

Exciting news just keeps pouring in! We will be joining forces with the Cat Protection Society (CPS) in November with Divine Creatures being CPS’s first partnership! This will mean that Divine Creatures will be adopting out CPS’s cats and kittens, with our cat adoption area being built by November. We are so excited about our new partnership as rescue is a passion Jules has had for many years. We hope you will join our mission and help save hundreds of lives. Next month we will let you know how you can help!

We have a new member to our growing team of cat carers! Silviana has had vast experience in the cat caring industry and has worked in several catteries in Australia. She is currently studying veterinary nursing having an enormous passion for cats and their well being.

A huge thank you to all who voted for us in the Local Business Awards! We reached the finals all thanks to your support! From here the judges will assess the business with the awards night being held on the 7th November so fingers crossed!

Ellie and Boo FOUND A HOME!! Thanks to you spreading the word we found Ellie and Boo a fantastic home to a loving family. They have settled in very well to their new home, such a beautiful end to a desperate story.

Thank you to Sarah and Antony for adopting these adorable girls. They are blessed to have found a beautiful new home!

Click here to read full article on Dangers with cats and human medication

Can I Give My Cat My Human Medicine?

NO! Cats are not small people. They are amazingly unique and have their own special way of processing drugs. Simple medicines that seems harmless to us can quickly kill a cat or make them life threatening ill. The harmful drugs in this article are just an example. Often people think they may try their own medicines to save paying for a veterinary consultation. I can guarantee that poisoning your cat with human medicines will cost plenty more than that trip to the vets.

Panadol. Tiny doses of Panadol can cause cat’s bodies to not transport oxygen from their lungs to the blood so it can keep the body alive. This is probably one of the most dreadful ways for a cat to die. It can be treated if we get puss early but the treatment is expensive and doesn’t always work. A very sad case I once saw, was a poor cat that had a sore foot from being in a cat fight. The owners didn’t want to pay for the trip to the vets but

Jules dos Santos, owner of Divine Creatures, shows Channel 7 news the Luxury Cat Hotel is in high demand as more and more of us want our furry family members to be safe, happy and well loved whilst away on holiday

There are hundreds of causes for vomiting and they range from very benign causes to nasty life threatening causes. So how do we tell the difference?

Is your cat really vomiting? ….[Click below to read full newsletter]…

Vomiting v Regurgitation ….[Click below to read full newsletter]…

How often has your cat vomited? ….[Click below to read full newsletter]…

What does the vomit look like?….[Click below to read full newsletter]…

Is your cat showing any other signs of illness?….[Click below to read full newsletter]…

And, as disgusting as it sounds, it helps if you bring the vomit for us vets to look at. As vets we may want to take some blood from your cat, maybe take X-rays or organise an ultrasound. There are so many causes it can take some real detective skills to get an exact cause.

If your cat gets hairballs, it is important that we help remove the hair from the cat. Hair that leaves the stomach and passes into the cat’s intestine can cause some nasty blockages. A daily brushing/combing regime will decrease the amount of hair your cat ingests. Prevention is definitely the best solution. Cat-lax is an oil based product that can help the hair pass through. Science Diet has an excellent hair ball dry diet that bulks up the cat’s faeces and helps the hair pass through. Below are some images of hairballs – very attractive things!

If in doubt, please just check with your vet. All too often Katie and Jules would see cases on emergency that could have been easily prevented if intervention was seeked a few days earlier. When a cat (or dog) continues to vomit the body goes through enormous amount of stress and often the underlining cause worsens to a catastrophic level. A few dollars today could save thousands later trying to repair the damaged caused from leaving it too long.

Hello Pet Parents,

We have some very exciting news! To meet our growing demands, our DA was approved for an expansion which means we will have four more New York Apartments, more condo’s and a renovation to our Penthouse Suite which is already complete. We are working our way down the already long Christmas waiting list and will be contacting the first few on the list shortly. Once work is complete we will have a total of 51 accommodations and we hope this will relieve the waiting lists over school holidays.

When is it time to say goodbye?

Such a cruel part of loving a furry family member is the horrid fact that they just do not live very long. You may not want to think about your pet’s passing but knowing what happens could help you deal with this difficult time. As a Vet I often get asked “When is it time to say goodbye?”.
A pet’s quality on life depends on being able to eat, drink, toilet, sleep and move around without pain. If a cat or dog suffers a condition that temporarily disturbs this quality of life but will ultimately recover
If a pet gets a condition such as diabetes and you are able to physically manage and financial commit to their care, then I believe they can live a normal life.
Some conditions such as malignant (bad) cancers or severe heart disease may not be treatable.
Chronic (long standing) conditions such as arthritis or degenerative myelopathy make the decision making process really difficult. These dogs can have days of debilitating pain then other days that they seem relative good.
Countless clients have said during euthanasia “this must be the most awful part of your job”. Yes it is painful as we do relate to your pain and grief, but it is a great honour to be trusted in your pet’s final time and to be able to deliver a pain and stress free passing.
Should you be present? This is a decision for you and your vet to make. For routine cat and dog euthanasias, it may be a good idea to to be present as it gives you an opportunity to say goodbye and give you peace of mind that your pet’s final minutes were peaceful.
Even if your pet is not ill, it is always good to consider what you would do with your pet’s body – this is a very personal decision and varies widely.
As painful as this topic maybe, the important thing to remember is that you are not alone. This will happen to all of us one day or you may have already experienced the excruciating pain associated with the loss of a pet. If you need to talk, we are always here for you when that time come, feel free to call us.
David Foote is a Bereavement Counselling for Pet Owners. Jules has used him several times during times of losing her pets and found it helped her tremendously work through & deal with the pain http://davidfoote.com.au/
I hope this article will help you find some clarity when that time comes. In the mean time – treasure each day with your pet(s).

Hello Pet Parents,

Goodness what a wet month we have had! Some of you may have noticed a change in demeanor with your

Questions Answered about Skin Problems in Cats

The cats skin is a fairly amazing part of their body – it makes hair, has specialised parts like whiskers, produces waxes to keep their hair healthy, helps regulate their temperature, and can change hair position to make them look bigger in a fight. Such a special organ can also get some very special problems and skin problems in cats are quite common and varied.

Abscesses – Cats that meet other cats often fight, this is normal cat behavior. In the wild, they are not pack animals and defend their territory defensively.

Ringworm – Ringworm is NOT a worm/parasite infection. It is a fungal disease that often causes circular lesions that expand outwards. Ringworm is more common in kittens, especially sick ones, and in long haired breeds.

Allergies – Cats do get allergies and just like people, can get allergic dermatitis. Some cats will be allergic to fleas, plants, pollen’s, wool, and even foods. Allergies can develop as cats get older and can become more serious as they age.

My recommendations to people with allergic pets are:

Diary – keep a diary of when your cat has skin problems, what is happening in their life and what they are eating.

Omega 3 fatty acids can be added to the cats diet.

There are skin specialists for cats and dogs – do not be afraid to ask your vet for a referral.

NB. Flea allergies are incredibly common. You will not see fleas on most flea allergic animals because they will eat the fleas when grooming. One flea bite every 2 weeks is enough to cause a problem in these pets.

Overgrooming – After a cat has been nervous, they will groom themselves. This makes them calm. For some cats this becomes excessive and they “overgroom”. Often these cats have bald bellies or flanks or sometimes forelegs

Cancers – Skin cancers are common and vary in size, appearance and location. Cancers will not always look nasty initially.

Dandruff – Cats, like people, can get dandruff. A little dandruff can be acceptable.

Shedding and Knots – As vets, we are often asked what we can give to stop hair falling out.

With room themes ranging from Fijian to Oriental to Parisian, even the most finicky of felines will likely find an ambience they adore.

“We have found a lot of owners reporting the cats are a lot happier and social when they get back home, this relaxes them,” Ms Dos Santos said. “Especially The Ritz room, that seems to be the most popular and soothing.” The Ritz – available for $75 a night – is described on the hotel’s website as having: “Beautiful, tranquil and relaxing decor with window views.”

Telstra business finalist is purr-fect

CHARLIE walks past a statue of the Eiffel Tower in his Paris-themed hotel room complete with three levels, French wash furniture, ensuite and floor-to-ceiling print of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

Aged three, Charlie is a Russian Blue cat who recently stayed at luxury “cat hotel” Divine Creatures in Willoughby, where for between $28.50 and $100 a day, cats stay while their owners go on holiday.

The cattery’s most expensive and largest room, called the Penthouse Lounge, has a floor-to-ceiling window, fireplace, large screen TV, two human-sized lounges and personal butler service.

“It’s the most luxurious,” said cattery co-owner Ms Dos Santos. “We literally offer a butler service for that room. “They are the first to get cleaned out and when they meow we come running.” Rooms have holiday themes including Paris, Fiji, New York,and Greece.

Divine Creatures luxury cat hotel cattery named Telstra Business Award finalist in the micro business category for the second

Urination Problems in Cats

Urination problems in cats are very common. Whilst this can be a very frustrating problem for both the cats and their owners, it is not a problem you have to live with. There are a number of reasons why cats inappropriately urinate and I must stress that there is always a reason. It is simply a process of elimination to find the reason why this habit started to form and early intervention will save you and your cat a lot of stress in the long run.

Is this a medical problem?

Yes it can be. Cats can get inflammation (irritation) of their bladders ….
In old cats or cats with kidney failure, diabetes or liver disease, owners often notice different urinary habits.

What can I do to avoid these problems?

If your cat is urinating out of the tray, medical problems need to be ruled out first. See your vet.
If there isn’t a medical problem, we need change the behaviour.

If these tips fail, perhaps consider a behaviourist. Don’t give up, the behaviour can be changed and rehoming the cat is not necessarily the best approach to responsible pet ownership. Deb Lowe is a renowned and an exceptionally good behaviourist. Deb offers telephone consultations for as little as $88 per hour. Please call Divine Creatures on 99583363 for more information on Deb services.

This month has been a busy month for Jules as well, as she starts her role as adviser to the Pet Industry Association, re-writing the codes of practice for the pet boarding sector. Naturally this is a huge project although very much needed with outdated codes.
You may also remember Jules hand reared a litter of kittens. Two of the girls went to their forever homes on Mothers’ Day to a lovely family. The other two have been growing fast and a beautiful relationship has been found with Jules’ dogs. A huge family of six rescued animals fill Jules home now!
A special thank you goes out to Margaret and her daughter Katie who came in every week to help socialize our kittens, you did a great job – Thank you!
Lastly, our most exciting news. We are currently in discussions with the Cat Protection Society of NSW about partnering to help more cats and kittens find forever homes. Watch this space!

Urination Problems in Cats

Urination problems in cats are very common. Whilst this can be a very frustrating problem for both the cats and their owners, it is not a problem you have

From first time kitten owners to seasoned cat companions, cat owners are divided whether or not cats should be allowed outdoors. Deciding whether or not a cat should be an indoors or outdoors animal is up to individual owners so long as awareness for all the pros and cons are considered.

We are not here to tell you which direction to take, merely provide you with all aspects of both indoor and outdoor life and how you may even be able to get the best of both worlds! … [Click “Read more” button below to read full version]

Well it is only the middle of Autumn, we are all feeling the cold and just because your fur family wears a fur coat doesn’t mean they don’t feel the cold as much as we do. We wear cloths and still enjoy the fire or electric blanket! This is particularly important for young or old animals. A coat or electric blanket will keep your adult pets happy and your old pets comfortable.

I might be letting the cat out of the bag too soon (pardon the pun) although just could not wait to share. We are in the middle of planning a Cat Adoption Program! This will mean hundreds, hopefully thousands of orphaned and abandoned kittens and cats will be rescued and re-homed. We shall keep you posted on the progress.

A gentle reminder that we are fully booked for Christmas and so the sooner you place your name on the waiting list the higher the chance of getting in for a Christmas holiday.

Wishing you a warm month of May!

Sincerely,
Jules, Dr Katie and the cat caring team at Divine Creatures

From first time kitten owners to seasoned cat companions, cat owners are divided whether or not cats should be allowed outdoors. Deciding whether or not a cat should be an indoors or outdoors animal is up to individual owners so long as awareness for all the pros and cons are considered.
We are not here to tell you which direction to take, merely provide you with all aspects of both indoor and outdoor life and how you may even be able to get the best of both worlds!

Great tips on how to care for your aging older cat.

Just like an older car, aging cats need more maintenance to keep them in good running order. It’s a great idea to start a file on your computer or buy an exercise book to keep track of changes. Things to note:

Weight – when you live with a cat, dog or human(!) and see them every day, we don’t always notice gradual weight changes….. [Click “Read more” button below to read full newsletter]

Diet – it is important to put your cat on an Senior cat diet from 8 years onwards….

With a little effort, we can give your beloved cat a very happy retirement years and very importantly find any changes early, treat what can be treated and if your cat suffers from a disease, we can make sure we keep Puss pain free and as happy as possible for as possible as humanly possible

Easter Dangers and helping cats settle into Cat Boarding

Easter Lillies – every part of these plants are poisonous to cats and causes renal (kidney) failure.

Packing – lots of easter baskets have cellophane string like strips.

First time in going to a Cattery? One of the keys to a good cat hotel holiday is knowing our cats are safe, well cared for and happy. There are things you can do that help the transition from home to holiday cattery home

Preparation – get your vaccinations, de-worming and flea prevention up to date…

Secure travel – cats should always be moved in a secure cat carry cage….

These are just a few points of differences between us and other boarding facilities. It is recommend that you visit the boarding facility, assess the facility with your own eyes and use logical common sense e.g. if they require an appointment – they have something to hide!

Wish us luck – Divine Creatures has reached the Finals for the Business Champions Awards and the awards night is on tonight! – 5th April (View finalists). The winner is awarded for the best in their industry with Divine Creatures being under the Pet Industry Award (This includes Veterinarians and other Boarding facilities). It’s a huge honour to get to this stage and it’s fabulous to see all the hard work of our dedicated staff being recognised.

Easter is a very busy time for Divine creatures. Apparently it’s the time of year when the most people leave Sydney for holidays. We want all our kitties to be happy, so we have included some tip below on how you can help smooth the transition from home to holiday for you cat and we thought you may be interested in what

Tips to keep your cat out of Veterinary Emergency

Keeping your cat safe from harm is normally just a matter of a little bit of common sense and some good planning. After 10 years working in Veterinary Emergency and seeing hundreds of preventable emergencies, Jules & Divine Creatures’ affiliated Veterinarian, Dr Katie Hankins, talk below about a few tips on how to avoid a trip to ER.

Car Accidents – Unfortunately cats are very prone to being hit by cars.

Dog Attacks – Unfortunately some dogs are very aggressive to cats and it’s a horrible way to die.

Holidays Lots of cats get fed by well-meaning neighbours & cat sitters during holidays. Unfortunately neighbours & cat sitters are not veterinary trained & are not always good at noticing when your cat is ill especially in the early stages. Find a reputable Cattery or kennels…

Is it really February already? Christmas and New Year are well and truly behind us. The relos have gone home… The kids are back at school… Fido and Felix have collapsed in a heap!

Most people plan a holiday immediately after their last one. So if you’ve got your calendar out trying to work out where and when, remember to check availability at Divine Creatures for your cat’s holiday as well. We’re already heavily booked for Christmas 2014.

February is of course our humid month and it can become quite unpleasant even on cooler days. Just because it’s overcast or the air temperature is a little lower still be diligent in checking on your pet’s comfort and well-being.

Because dogs and cats can’t release heat by sweating the way humans do, humidity can raise their body temperature. Keep an eye on them and make sure they’ve got fresh clean water and a cool place to rest.

Enjoy our last month of summer. With activity levels starting to normalise and with a little bit more time on our hands, it’s a great opportunity to hang out and spend more time with our divine creatures.

Best wishes from Jules and the team from Divine Creatures

Is your cat a tad eccentric with a unique personality, maybe it sleeps in the dog’s basket or is a bit of a clown with a rebellious but fun loving attitude? Maybe you own an Aquarius cat?

Heat Stress one of the most common seen conditions in veterinary emergency and the cata strophic effects of the condition are often fatal despite best efforts by veterinarians. The good news is that it also one of the most easily preventable. Dogs and cats can suffer from heat stoke / heat stress and it is not only caused by dehydration. We want to help you stay out of the Emergency Department! Here are our tips to help keep your pet cool this summer.

Lots of owners are frustrated by cats scratching the new couch, ripping threads from the carpet or making a mess of the doors. So they buy Fluffy a scratching post. Scratching posts are great – cats love them. They simulate getting to mark trees and sharpen claws. The downside – Fluffy now has sharp claws to use on the new couch.

Solution – let’s trim Fluffy’s claws! First let’s look at the inside of a claw:

The aim of trimming is to take the tip of the claw off and not cut the quick. It is best to trim just 1-2 mm of the claw tip every couple of weeks if you are new to trimming. As you get more confident you will realise how much you can trim and probably only need to trim every 6-8 weeks.

If you press on each pad in turn the claw will move forward and is much easier to trim.

If your cat is a wriggler, think about just trimming one or two claws then give your cat a treat. It is better to stop when you are going well. This makes trimming a positive experience. If you stop after Fluffy has turned into a hissing and biting ball of fury this will be the behaviour you’ll be likely to see in future before the clipping process has really progressed. It will be aimed, of course, at getting you to stop before you’ve started.

As for clippers, we all have our favourites. They don’t need to be expensive. Just make sure they feel comfortable in your hand so you can trim confidently.

If this all sounds a little daunting, get a confident cat person like your vet or one of the team at Divine Creatures to show you – this is a great skill to have and may save your couch!

The smell of a puppy factory is unforgettable, an overwhelming stench of urine and faeces. The simultaneous barking of hundreds of dogs creates a wall of sound that makes it hard to think, let alone converse.

Factory farmed dogs get no veterinary intervention when they need respite from their pain and suffering. They live in filth, sometimes without adequate food or water. Their coats are often matted with faeces and stained with urine. Ear infections and ear mite infestations are common as is painful dental and gum disease.

Many dogs slowly go insane. They spin in circles or pace back and forth in their cells, some never see daylight, and the outside world is a foreign place to them. Should any dogs be lucky enough to be rescued once outside in the open they still circle and pace as if they are still incarcerated. They shy away from human hands as they have never known kindness. The dogs are deprived of even their basic needs as the current law is only concerned with food shelter and water. The dog’s psychological and social needs are ignored on factory farms.

Breeding dogs are kept in large dirt pens surrounded by electric fencing wire to stop them escaping, the same way farmers keep cattle. Some factory farms keep their dogs hidden away in large tin sheds with rows and rows of concrete stalls, the same way farmers keep pigs. Whilst other dogs are kept inside sheds in rows of raised wire floor cages just like egg producers keep battery hens. Puppy factories and backyard breeders can have 30-40 dogs and some have up to up to 700 animals on one property. The dogs are kept in these horrific conditions for their entire lives and are constantly bred to supply pet shops and internet sites with cute fluffy puppies. Once the breeding dogs are no longer profitable, and after years of confinement and continual pregnancy they are taken out of their cages, pens and sheds and they are killed. Our best friends forgotten.

This large scale extreme cruelty that takes place day after miserable day in the name of commerce. Puppy factory farmers, pet shops, puppy brokers, veterinarians, advertisers and even the Government all take their blood money from this horrendous cruelty.

The puppy buying public are misled at every turn and picture the tiny pup they have just purchased has come from a loving environment — when nothing could be further from the truth.

July 29, 2013: Nearly 2 million Australians own cats and for many people they’re one of the family.So what happens when you go on a holiday? The coolest cats in town are living it up in luxury pet hotels, Natalia Cooper reports.

Telstra business finalist is purr-fect

CHARLIE walks past a statue of the Eiffel Tower in his Paris-themed hotel room complete with three levels, French wash furniture, ensuite and floor-to-ceiling print of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

Aged three, Charlie is a Russian Blue cat who recently stayed at luxury “cat hotel” Divine Creatures in Willoughby, where for between $28.50 and $100 a day, cats stay while their owners go on holiday.

The cattery’s most expensive and largest room, called the Penthouse Lounge, has a floor-to-ceiling window, fireplace, large screen TV, two human-sized lounges and personal butler service.

“It’s the most luxurious,” said cattery co-owner Ms Dos Santos. “We literally offer a butler service for that room. “They are the first to get cleaned out and when they meow we come running.” Rooms have holiday themes including Paris, Fiji, New York,and Greece.

Romeo playing in the Amazon Jungle Gym at Divine Creatures luxury cat hotel in Willoughby, which is a finalist in the 2013 Telstra Business awards. Picture: Adam TaylorSource: The Daily Telegraph

With room themes ranging from Fijian to Oriental to Parisian, even the most finicky of felines will likely find an ambience they adore.

“We have found a lot of owners reporting the cats are a lot happier and social when they get back home, this relaxes them,” Ms Dos Santos said. “Especially The Ritz room, that seems to be the most popular and soothing.” The Ritz – available for $75 a night – is described on the hotel’s website as having: “Beautiful, tranquil and relaxing decor with window views.”

Tilly in her uptown New York apartment at Divine Creatures luxury cat hotel, which is a finalist in the 2013 Telstra Business awards. Picture: Adam TaylorSource: The Daily Telegraph

They advertise “spacious deluxe condos built over three levels, include a separate main bedroom and separate en suite” which are described as having “plenty of room to move – your feline companion will enjoy relaxing days and peaceful nights”.

Then there are the “New York City Apartments”, “twice the size of the already huge deluxe condos”. These have “window views and opportunities to bask in the sunshine all day long” and offer “plenty of room for a multi-cat household”. But the luxury doesn’t just stop at

This year’s Telstra Business Awards finalists have just been announced and Divine Creatures luxury cat hotel is a finalist in the Start-up category. Cats can now holiday in New York or Paris without even getting on a plane! The five star cat boarding facility provides a range of luxury cat accommodation options including themed rooms so that cats and their owners can enjoy similar scenery while on holidays.